{ "id": "93274", "author": "26", "cnmid": "0", "title": "Rohit Sharma All Set To Begin ODI Captaincy In India's Historic Match", "lang": "en", "series": "489", "cup_year": "2022", "article_type": "General", "excerpt": "India's new white-ball skipper Rohit Sharma starts his full-time ODI tenure as his team plays the West Indies in their 1,000th ODI. ", "subtype": null, "editor1": "

India's new white-ball skipper Rohit Sharma starts his full-time ODI tenure on Sunday as his team play the West Indies in their 1,000th one-day international, the first side ever to reach the milestone.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The encounter at the world's biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad is the first of a three-match series but will be played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

India passed 500,000 deaths from the virus on Friday, although infection rates in the current Omicron outbreak have slowed in recent days.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"I was the captain of India in the 500th ODI," India's cricket chief Sourav Ganguly told Indian magazine Sportstar -- a 2002 game against England in Chester-le-Street.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

"It is a big moment for Indian cricket, but unfortunately, the match will be played without a crowd."<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The hosts have been hit by the virus themselves with four players including Shikhar Dhawan, Shreyas Iyer and Ruturaj Gaikwad being isolated after testing positive.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Mayank Agarwal has been added to the squad and will be a candidate to open the batting alongside Rohit, although vice-captain K.L. Rahul remains a possibility.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

The 34-year-old Rohit, who took over the Twenty20 and then ODI captaincy from Virat Kohli, was ruled out of India's tour of South Africa by a hamstring injury, when the visitors lost the Test series 2-1 and were whitewashed 3-0 in ODIs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

He is leading the one-day side in a year that will see the T20 World Cup in Australia and is favourite to be named Test captain as well.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Indian broadcasters have been promoting the West Indies series with a song on Rohit's comeback likely to boost the hosts, and the star batsman acknowledged the compliment.<\/p>\r\n\r\n

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Humbled by the lovely rap @StarSportsIndia<\/a>
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\r\nLooking forward to be back on the field and take inspiration from the fans’ continued support as India takes on West Indies #BelieveinBlue<\/a> #IndvsWI<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/Ny3IDg3VwA<\/a><\/p>\r\n— Rohit Sharma (@ImRo45) February 1, 2022<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n